Support structure for irradiated elements



Feb. 3, 1970 JAMES E. WEBB 3,493,746

ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE, ADMINISTRATIONSUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR IRRADIATED ELEMENTS Filed Oct. 26. 1966 2| FIG. II f X- RAY SOURCE 21 ll I5 l5 19 -:-.-\.-rv- ,w rw I X- RAY PLATE F I G.2 INVENTOR.

m ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,493,746 SUPPORT STRUCTURE FORIRRADIATED ELEMENTS James E. Webb, Administrator of the NationalAeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention byAnthony J. Nasuti, Hyde Park, Mass.

Filed Oct. 26, 1966, Ser. No. 590,144 Int. Cl. G01n 23/20; H01j 37/26US. Cl. 250-52 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A structure forsupporting a plurality of small, pelletsized elements for simultaneousexposure to X-ray radiation. The structure includes a tube, of amaterial which is permeable to X-ray radiation, in which the elements tobe irradiated are located at different axial positions along the tube.The tube, which is disposed in the path of the radiation from an X-raysource towards an X-ray sensitive plate, is manually rotatable about itslongitudinal axis, so as to control the orientations of the irradiatedelements in the radiation path.

The invention described herein was made in the performance of work undera NASA contract and is subject to the provisions of section 305 of theNational Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, Public Law 85-568 (72 Stat.435; 42 USC 2457).

This invention relates to an apparatus for supporting irradiated matterand, more particularly, to an improved structure, capable of supportinga plurality of miniature elements exposable to radiation such as anX-ray beam.

Although various structure have been developed to support relativelylarge objects which may be subjected to radiation, prior are devices arenot designed to support a plurality of miniature or small elements, suchas pellets, so that they may conveniently be exposed to radiationsimultaneously, at any one of a plurality of different angularorientations. A structure with such capabilities is highly desirablewhen a large number of pellets are to be subjected to radiation tests,such as X-ray tests, since the simultaneous exposure of several elementswill result in decreased cost and time, required for such tests.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a newstructure for supporting small elements exposable to radiation.

Another object is the proviison of a simple structure capable ofsupporting a plurality of small elements, subjected to radiation, at anyone of a plurality of desired angular orientations.

A further object is the provision of a structure for such portingsimultaneolsly a plurality of elements, so that they may be exposed toX-ray radiation tests, thereby reducing the number of X-ray platesnecessary to provide the desired results.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide arelatively simple and inexpensive structure for supporting a pluralityof pellets, exposable to X-ray radiation simultaneously, at any one of aplurality of angular orientations, to reduce the cost and the timerequired to conduct such tests.

These and other objects of the present invention are achieved byproviding a support housing, consisting of a longitudinal tube in whichpellets to be irradiated are securely placed. The housing is constructedof a material, permeable to the particular radiating eneregy to whichthe pellets are to be subjected. One end of the housing is supported ina structure frame through a circular opening therein, so that thehousing can be rotated about its longitudinal axis. A crank-like member,which extends from "ice the end of the housing, supported by the frame,is used to manually or automatically rotate the housing about itslongitudinal axis, so that the pellets therein may assume any one of aplurality of selected angular relationships with respect to a source ofradiating eneregy. Markings are provided about the opening in the frameso that the relative position of the crank with respect theretoindicates the relative rational position of the housing with respect toa reference position, thereby defining the angular orientation of thepellets in the housing with respect to the energy source.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of this inventionare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The inventionwill best be understood from the following description when read inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of the support apparatus of the presentinvention; and

FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of the multipellet support apparatus ofthe invention.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 1 and 2 which are front and isometricviews respectively, of the multipellet support apparatus of theinvention. Therein is shown a housing 11 in the from of a longitudinaltube, having one open end 13 through which small elements, such aspellets 15, to be irradiated may be inserted into the interior opening17 of the housing. After the pellets are placed within the housing, end13 may be sealed by a plug 19 to secure the pellets held within thehousing.

The housing is made of a material, permeable to the particular radiatingenergy to which the pellets are to be subjected. For example, when thepellets are to be subjected to X-ray radiation, the housing may be madeof material which is permeable to X-rays, such as nylon. For suchapplication, the housing is placed between an X-ray source 21 and anX-ray sensitive surface, such as an X- ray plate 22. Thus, a singleplate may be used to provide an X-ray negative of a plurality of pelletswhich are simultaneously exposed to X-ray radiation. Consequently, thenumber of plates and the time required for the X-ray analysis of thepellets is greatly reduced.

The housing 11 is preferably supported between the source 21 and plate22 by means of a support frame 25, defining a circular opening 27. Theopening is of a diameter large enough to enable a portion of the housingnear its end opposite end 13 to be inserted therethrough. When properlysupported by frame 25, the longitudinal axis of the housing 11 isaligned with the center of the opening 27. The housing 11, thoughsecurely held within the frame 25, is rotatable Within the opening toany desired rotational position with respect to a reference position.

To control and facilitate the housings rotation about its longitudinalaxis, a crank-like member 29 is fastened to the housings end, supportedin the frame 25. The crank-like member 29, hereafter also referred tosimply as crank 29, is exposed on .one side of frame 25 while thehousing 11, with the pellets therein, are exposed on an opposite side ofthe frame. The crank 29, shown extending in a perpendicular direction tothe housings longitudinal axis may be used as a pointed in conjunctionwith markings 25w 25b, and 250 on frame 25, to indicate the rotationalposition of the housing with respect to a reference position, therebydefining the angular position of the pellets in the housing with respectto the energy source, such as source 21. Thus, the crank serves a doublefunction, in that it is used to rotate the housing 11, as well as toprovide an indication of the rotational position thereof.

From the foregoing, it should thus be appreciated that the novel supportapparatus of the present invention provides means, whereby a pluralityof pellets may be simultaneously supported to be exposed to radiatingenergy. Also, the apparatus includes a simple arrangement whereby thesupported pellets may assume any one of a plurality of angularrelationships with respect to the source, providing the radiatingenergy. Thus, proper pellet orientation is achieved. The crank 29 may bepositioned with respect to the markings, either manually or by automaticmeans. One example of automatic means is a stepping motor (not shown)coupled to crank 29. By providing the motor with an appropriate numberof pulses, crank 29 may be automatically turned to align itself with thedesired marking, indicative of a particular angular orientation of thepellets with respect to the radiating energy source.

There has accordingly been shown and described herein a multipelletsupport apparatus, useful in supporting a plurality of pellets to beexposed to radiating energy. It is appreciated that those familiar withthe art may make modifications and/or substitute equivalents in thearrangements as shown. Therefore, all such modifications and/orequivalents are deemed to fall within the scope of the invention asclaimed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for supporting a plurality of small specimens to besubjected simultaneously to energy, radiating from a radiating energysource, towards an energy sensitive element comprising:

a single tubular housing disposed between said source and said elementin the path of said radiating energy, the housing being of a materialpermeable to said radiating energy having at least .one open end and defining an opening along its longitudinal axis extend ing from said openend, said opening being large enough to support the specimens therein atdifferent axial positions, the longitudinal axis of said housing beingsubstantially perpendicular to the shortest path of energy from saidsource to said element;

a support frame defining a circular opening for rotatably supporting anend of said housing opposite said open end in the circular openingthereof; and

.operable means coupled to the housing end supported by said frame forcontrolling the rotation of said housing about its longitudinal axis tocontrol the angular orientations of said specimens with respect to thesource of radiating energy thereby to simultaneously control theorientations of said specimens in the path of the energy radiating fromsaid source toward said energy sensitive element.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 further including a plurality ofmarkings, radially disposed about the center of the opening in saidsupport frame, the relative position of said operable means with respectto said markings being indicative of a rotational position of saidhousing about its longitudinal axis with respect to 21 referenceposition.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said operable meanscomprises a manually rotatable crank-like member integrally connected tothe end of said housing supported by said frame, said crank-like memberhaving a portion thereof extending in a direction perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of said housing to form a pointer in relation to saidmarkings whereby the position of said pointer adjacent each of saidmarkings is indicative of another rotational position of said housingwith respect to said reference position.

4. An apparatus for supporting simultaneously a plurality ofpellet-sized elements between an X-ray source and an X-ray sensitivesurface to simultaneously expose said elements to X-ray radiation,directed from said source to said surface comprising:

a single tubular housing of material permeable to X-ray radiation, saidhousing having one open end and defining an opening extending from saidopen end along the longitudinal axis thereof said opening being largeenough to support said pellet-size elements therein at different axialpositions;

a support frame defining an opening for supporting said tubular housingbetween said X-ray source and the X-ray sensitive surface by supportingan end of said tubular housing opposite said open end in the openingthereof with the longitudinal axis of said housing, substantiallyperpendicular to the shortest path between said source and saidsensitive surface; and

operable means coupled to said housing end supported in said frame forcontrolling the rotation of said housing about its longitudinal axis tocontrol the angular orientations of said elements with respect to saidX-ray source, thereby to simultaneously control the orientations of saidpellet-sized elements in the path of the X-ray radiation from saidsource to said sensitive surface.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein the opening in said frame iscircular and said housing comprises a nylon tube having an outerdiameter not greater than the diameter of the circular opening in saidframe, whereby the end of the tube supported in the frame opening isrotatable therein with the longiudtinal axis of said tube being alignedwith the center of said circular opening, and the inner diameter of saidtube is related to the largest diameter of any of said pellet-sizedelements, with each element located at a different axial position insaid tube.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 5 further including a plurality ofmarkings radially disposed about the center of the opening in saidsupport frame, the relative position of said operable means with respectto said markings being indicative of a rotational position of saidhousing about its longitudinal axis with respect to a referenceposition.

7. The apparatus difined in claim 6 wherein said operable meanscomprises a manually rotatable crank-like member integrally connected tothe end of said housing supported by said frame, said crank-line memberhaving a portion thereof extending in a direction perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of said housing to form a pointer in relation to saidmarkings whereby the position of said pointer adjacent each of saidmarkings is indicative of another rotational position of said housingwith respect to said reference position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1952 Evans 250---51.5

5/1959 Kizaur 25052 U.S. Cl. X.R.

